I'll try to make this short. I'm 38, have rheumatoid arthritis (otherwise, in excellent health). I have heard/read horror stories about this disease (and have my own unfortunate stories) but I want to tell EVERYONE about the medication my doctor prescribed. It's called GENERIC NAME: hydroxychloroquine / BRAND NAME: Plaquenil. Unlike ALL the other medications with serious side effects, mortality rates, etc. etc., this one works for me. Virtually no side effects (a very, very small percentage of people will have eye problems. I spoke with my eye doctor and in his 25 years of practice, he has NEVER some across anyone who is on plaquenil to have contracted any eye problems).

Please talk to your doctor and really press the issue if they don't agree with giving this medication a try. It's been around for decades. Why ALL doctors don't recommend it is still a mystery to me.

my doctor just perscribed Plaquenil today and I havent tried them yet. She also perscribed predisone for 2 months.... I had been taking Celebrex and Metrotrexate. They wasnt working. I just wanted to see what other people were saying about the Plequenil and how it worked for them. So far ive read good things about the medicine. Thanks!

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My first doctor prescribed mobic (didn't work) and then was recommending steriods and a myriad of other medications. I switched doctors and he prescribed 8 mg of medrol for two months, simultaneously taking 400 mg plaquenil a day (my doctor stating that it takes approximately 2 months for the plaquenil to take effect). After 4 months of 400 mg plaquenil a day, I'm now at 200 mg a day (total 6 months so far). I go back to the doctor in June 2008 for a check up. I don't know if everyone will have the same effect - but before plaquenil, I was immobile (everything from my ankles, knees, shoulders, fingers - you name it, couldn't move it).

Can I ask you the reason you dropped from 400 to 200mg daily? My doc just started me on plaquenil a couple of weeks ago at 200mg once daily. This is my PCP. My RA doc had first tried me on mobic, then lodine, then methotrexate, predisone' then humira (got shingles so I begged for the vaccine so had to stop humira which was working for the few months I took it. When I went back on it, didn't work which doc said typically hapens if you stopbit or a period of time. Then she tried me on enbrel. This did not! work as well. I asked for plaquenil, but for some reason she continued me on the enbrel. I continued to have flares, so I quit the enbrel on my own since its such a dangerous medication. I asked my PCP for plaquenil. I am praying the is my miracle treatment. I'm so tired, in pain, nauseated, and just feel like a terrible mom of my two beautiful sweet hildrern who need their old mom back (3 years ago I was so much more energertic & had much less pain!). I'm 40 years old and work a full time very stressful job whichi know effects my RA flares! I just want to feel "normal" again and be as better wife to my sweet, patient, caring hubby of almost 13 years. I appreciate any info you can give me on plaquenil side effects & how long it should take to start working. Thanks so much. (Note: I'm on an android tablket that will not allow me to go back & edit my typo's, so I apologize for any errors. Lol)

Can I ask you the reason you dropped from 400 to 200mg daily? My doc just started me on plaquenil a couple of weeks ago at 200mg once daily. This is my PCP. My RA doc had first tried me on mobic, then lodine, then methotrexate, predisone' then humira (got shingles so I begged for the vaccine so had to stop humira which was working for the few months I took it. When I went back on it, didn't work which doc said typically hapens if you stopbit or a period of time. Then she tried me on enbrel. This did not! work as well. I asked for plaquenil, but for some reason she continued me on the enbrel. I continued to have flares, so I quit the enbrel on my own since its such a dangerous medication. I asked my PCP for plaquenil. I am praying the is my miracle treatment. I'm so tired, in pain, nauseated, and just feel like a terrible mom of my two beautiful sweet hildrern who need their old mom back (3 years ago I was so much more energertic & had much less pain!). I'm 40 years old and work a full time very stressful job whichi know effects my RA flares! I just want to feel "normal" again and be as better wife to my sweet, patient, caring hubby of almost 13 years. I appreciate any info you can give me on plaquenil side effects & how long it should take to start working. Thanks so much. (Note: I'm on an android tablket that will not allow me to go back & edit my typo's, so I apologize for any errors. Lol)

Retinopathy (irreversible retinal damage) are dose-related, and has been observed in some patients who had received long-term or high-dosage therapy of Plaquenil.
Have you been examined by ophthalmologist before starting the treatment?
Are you aware that you need to do periodical exams of eyes at least every 3 months?
Have you been tested for your knee and ankle reflexes after months of Plaquenil use?

Eye exams for RA patients taking plaquenil are recommended once a year, not once every three months. Blood should be tested once every three to six months for changes in platelets. Plaquenil is basically the safest drug treatment for RA, with fewer side effects than the other typically prescribed RA drugs. It is also, however, the lowest level of treatment and may not work for some people with more severe RA. I'm 30 years old, and it has worked great for me so far. Before treatment, I could barely walk or lift my baby when I had flare ups.

Thank you. I am also in my 30's. I had a reaction to methotrexate and the doctor just prescribed Plaquenil. I see the eye doctor tomorrow before I start it. I was hoping to find someone who had a success story for this medication. I am about to give up on treatment.

I am 35. I was diagnosed with RA at 31. I was on methotrexate for 8 mo. as well as steroids for 12 months. I started the plaquenil combined with the steroids in the 3 months after being off the methotrexate then stopped the steroids completely. I had been on the plaquenil since then with short periods of the prednizone for flares. I feel like it kept the disease pretty well under control but i did suffer a lot with depression, mood swings and paranoia. I have been through a lot in the past couple of years so I'm not sure if these symptoms were just from stress or from the medication. I have been off of the plaquenil now for about a year because i was pregnant and nursing. The disease does go into remission during this time. I just started experiencing symptoms of the disease again in the last month. It definetly does help the pain and progression of the disease. I'm wondering if anyone has experienced any mental symptoms from this drug?

Yes, I have been on it for a month and I do feel less energetic and more depressed. My husband has noticed I`m not as sharp or myself. But I have to admit it does help with the pain. Right now I want the pain to stop in my joints and am willing to try Plaquenil since mobic and prednisone are not helping with my flare ups. If the depression gets worse I might have to reconsider. I am willing to try.

Just started Plaquenil today and feel much better about reading theses posts. I am looking forward to being out of pain. I 'm wondering did you people feel a differnce in your energy levels. Some days, most day I feel so tired. Its makes me so sad I was running half marathons last summer and now I find it hard to get the energy just to go to the grocery store.

Was started on plaquenil (generic form) 6 months ago. Was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arhtritis. I am a totally different person today. It took about 2 months for me to start feeling better. I was in so much pain I would cry everytime I tried to climb the stairs to go to bed. I needed both hands and arms to bring my coffee cup up to my mouth. Could hardly dress myself. I feel so much better today. I told my Dr it was all I could do to put the pill in my mouth and swallow it cause he knows I hate the thought of taking meds. Thank god I did. I won't be taking any of the other meds with worse side effects and will continue to pray this drug works for a long long time. No side effects at all so far.

Thank you so much for your response. I'm looking forward to getting back to myself. I don't even know who I am anymore. Forty three years old yet between the pain, lack of mobility and fatigue I feel like a 90 year old. Oh my gosh and you... two hands to drink coffee, thats just terrible.....my heart goes out to you. I'm glad your feeling so much better.

I hope you get the same response from the plaquenil as I have. It does take time to work. I too had the fatigue and malaise (not feeling well) wt loss (50 lbs worth) and I also felt like a 90 yr old even though I'm only 56. I have gone through the anger, grief, self pity and why me, why now. So much has been taken away. I still get depressed, cry alittle, and have break through pain but compared to 6 months ago I feel alot better. More energy, feel more like myself. The reality of having to be on medication(s) the rest of my life, and having to adjust my life style to accomodate a chronic illness" still is hard for me to accept. I'm trying but it's tuff. Just know that we all are fighting the same battle. What works for some might not work for everyone, but I hope you to will start feeling better soon.

I'm am SO thankful I found this information! I am 57 and have felt much older for years. I have very young grandchildren, who couldn't understand why Nanny wanted to lie in bed so much. I started 4 mgs. of Prednisone with 400 mgs. of Plaquenil daily. I will be stopping the Prednisone the end of December. It's been scary because of the Swine flu exposure due to it lowering my immune systemn, but so for so good. God Bless all!

I tried the Plaquenil for a year but unfortunately did not have the good response some of you have had..I am currently on Methotrexate 5mg twice every Friday..This has helped some..Without it I don't know if I would be able to move..Definetly a hard road to be on but it's one that was dealt and must walk it..I hope someday that a magic pill will come out to help everyone with this awful disease..God Bless..k

I am age 60 and have had RA for 36 years. I have taken Plaquenil for many years and it is working great. I have my eyes checked once a year with the vision field test also. Everything there is fine also. I tried Methotrexate along with the plaquenil and felt great for 3 months. Then ended in the ER thinking I was having a heart attack. Had every heart test done and they were fine. Quit taking the methotrexate and the pain went away. I am now on the plaquenil and Enbrel injectable and I am like a new person. Enbrel is a wonder drug. Nothing is a cure but keep moving and stretching.

I''ve suffered with RA for 35 yrs. Took methotrexate of and on for 25 yrs. Most recently back on it last year. This time had terrible reaction. Got sore thoughout my mouth and couldn''t eat or brush my teeth. Once they cleared up, 6 days later, could eat for one day then time for next dose. Lost over 12lbs. in 2 weeks. Down to under 100lbs. Dr just prescribed Plaquenil. Waiting for eye exam before starting Plaquenil. Hope it will work for me as it has for others. Loved response to Mtx until started having side effect. Also have bladder cancer and receiving BCG treatments for that. Looking for info to be sure there is no problem taking Plaquenil while receiving BCG for Bladder Cancer.

have been taking plaquenil for over 10 years and about to turn 50 in a few weeks. my specialist has said i can quit plaquenil as i am stable and have had no progression on the RA. has anyone else done this and what happened . i am hoping to cut out having to take too many tablets and have been told to take naprosyn prn. i rarely use this drug either.

I have been prescribed plaquenil today to treat my inflamatory arthritus. The pain has almost taken my life away and almost ended my marriage. I am hoping that this will be as effective for me as it has been for some others. And that I will be able to resume my active life. I am 36 and feel and move like a 90 year old. From the postings it seems like there is a good chance for success, hope is something that is very helpful.

I have been on Plaquenil for a few weeks. It made a difference the first few days and now not much will it continue to work? they first prescribed enbrel it did nothing. Also, I have severe RA in my knees they are bent and will not straighten, has anyone had this? Will they eventually straighten out again so I can walk freely?

I've had RA for almost a year, I recently have been presrcibed Planquenil, but have'nt started takin it yet. My left knee is bent and won't straighten and right knee can straighten, which I find strange. My rheumy says its from the inflammation, and with drug treatment and eventually physical therapy I should be walking better. I hope you feel better and hope this was helpful

I was diagnosed with RA in 1996 at age 31. I was in terrible pain and assumed I had bone cancer or worse and was going to die. I did not have insurance at the time, but got it as soon as the pain started. I waited several agonizing months before going to the doctor to prevent any questions about a pre-existing conditions. This was the worst time in my life, simple task like drinking a full cup of coffee or getting dressed by myself was nearly impossible. When I finally went to the doctor he unfortunately took the approach of starting out slowly with Advil and gradually adding medications until my symptoms improved. The process took over a year before the right combination was found and honestly I don't know how I lived through it. Plaquenil was the first real drug that was tried after it was determined that Advil was not suitable. Then Prednisone was added, this almost killed me. Just as with body builders that take their own lives while taking steroids, I too found myself in a situation with thoughts of suicide were a daily occurrence. The pain alone was enough to make me severely depressed but now with the addition of a mood altering steroid in my system it seemed my every waking moment was spent on how to end it all. Fortunately I had enough good sense to realize I needed to get off the steroids, but my RA doctor suggested that I try some Prozac. Well this meant a new doctor was in order. So with a new RA doctor I was prescribed Methotrexate, in combination with the drugs that I was already taking, Plaquinil, Prednisone, and Trisalicylate. This was my miracle drug. After 1 month the improvement was incredible. after 6 months my situation had improved so much that I decided to try to get off of the Predisone. This process was done slowly over the coarse of a year and today I have eliminated all of the other drugs as well. I can say that today I'am 90-95% pain free most of the time. Looking back I wish my original doctor had taken the approach of starting with the big guns first and then slowly elimination the dosages and drugs until a balance was met. This could have saved me 3 years of torture. I never seemed to have any improvement while taking Plaquenil, for me the only one that had any effect at all was Methotrexate.

I have acute RA for 17 years, it is very nasty, my Right Elbow is bent, swallen, felt hot like a fever for 5 years
& now there's no cartilages left on my Right Elbow (I left it too late) I should go & get the Arthroscopy done earlier
(it means having a keyhole surgery to clean up the swallen join) perhaps...it might have safe my cartilages. now my right elbow is bone on bone, the bones rub against each other and very, very painful.
Taking prednisone for 13 years, Methotrexate for 8 years my RA was well control but last year, I was diagnose a Lymphoma, now I have stop taking Methotrexate & Dr prescripted Plaquenil, I should take it but....I was more concert about losing my sight

I started having major joint pain at age 13 while on the swimming team. It took doctors nearly 6 years to finally diagnose Juvenile RA. I was in pain every single day from age 13 to approx age 19. Only took high doses of ascriptin (asprin). The doctor changed me to 800 mg Ibuprofin. Took that FIVE times a day for 2 years. My Juvenile RA when into spontaneous remission for nearly 15 years. It came back about age 34 and I just took OTC Ibuprofin, about 800 mg again 4 times a day. Finally at age 37 doctor prescibed Plaquenil. OMG! After just two weeks my pain was GONE! I had no pain for about 6 months. I'm a bad pill taker and decided to stop on my own. It was a miracle drug for me! Now at age 45 I went back to the same doctor and he decides after looking at my painful hips that I have bursitis (sp?) instead of RA and will not give me plaquenil. I have no clue why. Also what the doctors didn't tell me before was that people with RA have a higher risk of developing LYMPHOMA. Now at age 45 I have Lymphoma in my breast and lungs and maybe even bone. Please get checked out for LYMPHOMA if you have RA!

Help! At age 57 diagnosed with RA thru cyclic citrullinated peptide AB test, I was 131 eu, A strong positive was reading of 60 >, so since i was over double the high reading my Dr started me on plaquenil..well after continued unbearable pain went to hand doctor for 2nd opinion and diagnosed with severe carpal tunnel both hands. I had carpal surgery and all pain immediately went away so...do I keep taking plaquenil due to positivie test, though symptoms seem obviously related to the carpal tunnel?..bottom line, if it keeps me from getting terrible effects I read can happen, I will gladly continue but, if my doctor had sent me to hand specialist 1st and had I been diagnosed with Carpal before the cyclic test, we would never have seen my high test. Biggest downside in taking it, if I don't need it and with potential eye problems should I do it as a preventative? what to do? My Dr thinks since I have high reading should take anyway just to ward off future problems???

I started Plaquenil on Friday for my RA, and I must say it has wiped out my fatigue!! I still ache, but in a few months, that will be gone too. I am very happy with this drug, and have had NO side effects. I'm 36, and I am anemic and have high blood pressure as well, as it doesn't interfere with my other meds. Very pleased!!